Justin McKeone, former husband of ex-Miss Universe Australia Olivia Molly Rogers, now confronts a bankruptcy petition after failing to repay $556,698.50 stolen from his employer during a drugs, gambling, and alcohol binge.
Court Finds Misappropriation
A civil court determined McKeone misappropriated $481,490.33 while serving as Head of Finance at Rocket Brands (Cozmic Sales Pty Ltd) over five months. The Supreme Court, in March 2025, ruled he breached his contract and fiduciary duty, ordering repayment including interest and costs.
Evidence showed McKeone spent the funds immediately on personal indulgences. Associate Justice Ian Irving noted, ‘None of these transactions were authorised or approved by Rocket.’ McKeone admitted the theft during a meeting with Matthew Holmes, sole director of Cozmic Sales Pty Ltd, on October 14, 2024.
Staff reported erratic behavior, including sleeping in office toilets, extended lunch breaks, and abrupt departures. Bank records revealed his account held just over $1,000 when he began siphoning over $6,000 in initial thefts.
Bankruptcy Proceedings
Rocket Brands filed a creditor’s petition in the Federal Circuit Court seeking a sequestration order against McKeone’s estate. The petition covers the full Supreme Court judgment plus $63,346.02 in additional interest. McKeone received a bankruptcy notice on March 20 and failed to comply by April 10.
Criminal Charges and Investigation
McKeone faces over 100 fraud charges for obtaining financial advantage by deception. He joined Rocket Brands in March 2024 on a $200,000 annual salary, but concerns arose weeks into his probation. His boss reported the theft to Victoria Police on October 14, 2024, launching a 15-month probe.
Barrister Kieren Hickie, representing Rocket Brands, described the incidents as a ‘spending spree’ that depleted McKeone’s account to near zero.
Personal Background
McKeone briefly vanished after the Supreme Court ruling, prompting welfare concerns, but later surfaced in Western Australia. He shares a child, born in May 2025, with Tahnee Leeson from The Bachelor Australia 2021, following an on-again, off-again relationship after his 2022 split from Rogers.
The couple married in early 2022 but separated after eight months. Rogers, with 350,000 Instagram followers, shared her relief: ‘Starting again might be the scariest – and best – decision you ever make.’ She added, ‘At 30 I left my marriage… I trusted that I deserved more. Leaving is hard. But staying in the wrong relationship is harder.’
McKeone returns to court for criminal matters on June 5, with the bankruptcy petition hearing set a week later.
